The tension in the student council room was palpable as Rias and her peerage stood frozen, their frustration and confusion evident. Across the room, Raizer Phoenix's peerage continued their relaxed antics, seemingly unconcerned about the match or their opponents.
Shiki floated lazily in midair, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "So," he began, his tone dripping with mockery, "this is the famous Gremory peerage? I've heard so much about you. Truly, it's an honor to meet such… legends."
He put heavy emphasis on the last word, making it clear that he didn't mean it sincerely.
Rias's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, nothing," Shiki said innocently, twirling upside down in the air. "It's just… well, let's be honest here. You're all way out of your league."
The Mockery Begins
The rest of Raizer's peerage, sensing the opportunity, couldn't help but join in.
Whitebeard leaned back in his chair, his booming laugh filling the room. "Out of their league? That's putting it kindly, Shiki. These kids don't even know what they're up against."
"Kids?" Kiba said, his voice tight with barely contained anger.
"Yeah," Roger chimed in, grinning. "Kids. I mean, look at you. All that training, and you're still barely scratching mid-level devil power? What are you even doing here?"
Kiba's fists clenched, but before he could respond, Mihawk spoke up, his calm, measured tone cutting through the air like a blade.
"If you can't even sense the difference in power between yourself and us," Mihawk said, his golden eyes locking onto Kiba, "then you're not just weak—you're blind. A swordsman who can't see his opponent's strength is already lost."
Kiba's face turned red with anger and embarrassment. "I don't need advice from you!"
"Clearly, you do," Mihawk replied coolly.
Shiki Targets Issei
Shiki's grin widened as he turned his attention to Issei, who was standing awkwardly near the back of the group.
"And then there's you," Shiki said, pointing dramatically. "The legendary Red Dragon Emperor, wielder of the mighty Boosted Gear! Surely you must be the most powerful pawn in existence!"
Issei puffed out his chest, clearly trying to look confident. "That's right! I'm the Red Dragon Emperor, and I—"
"—am a total joke," Shiki finished, cutting him off.
The room went silent for a moment before Shiki erupted into laughter. "Seriously, you're the Red Dragon Emperor? I've seen garden snakes with more dignity. What do you even do? Boost your power and then hope you don't get one-shotted?"
Issei's face turned bright red. "I'm not a joke! I'll prove it in this match!"
"Oh, please," Shiki said, waving a hand dismissively. "You're not even strong enough to stand in the same room as us, let alone fight us. If you're the best Rias could find for a pawn, then she's even worse at picking peerage members than I thought."
Koneko and Asia Aren't Spared
Shiki wasn't done yet. He turned to Koneko, who was glaring at him with her usual stoic expression.
"And what about you?" Shiki said, floating closer. "The strong, silent type, huh? You think that makes you mysterious? Sorry to break it to you, but it just makes you boring. You've got some decent physical strength, sure, but you're holding back so much that it's practically useless. What are you afraid of? Turning into a monster like your sister?"
Koneko's eyes widened slightly, and her fists clenched, but she didn't respond.
Shiki moved on to Asia, who was clutching her sacred gear tightly. "And then there's the healer. Low-class devil power, zero combat ability, and about as intimidating as a scared kitten. I'm sure you're great at patching up wounds, but let's be real—what are you even doing in a fight?"
Asia flinched, her eyes darting to Rias for reassurance.
The Elemental Trio Joins In
As Shiki continued his relentless tirade, the elemental trio—Akainu, Kuzan, and Greenbull—decided to throw in their own commentary.
Akainu crossed his arms, his stern expression making him look even more intimidating. "You call yourselves a peerage? I've seen more discipline in a group of rowdy recruits. You're soft, weak, and completely unprepared for what's coming."
Kuzan, leaning casually against the wall, smirked. "It's not their fault, Akainu. They just don't know any better. They probably think they're strong because they've never fought anyone above their level."
Greenbull chuckled, shaking his head. "It's almost sad, really. They're like little kids playing pretend, thinking they're warriors. If they actually saw what real power looks like, they'd run crying back to their base."
The Audience Reacts
The entire exchange was being broadcast to the audience outside the arena, and the reactions were immediate.
In the noble houses' section, Lord Zekram Bael looked both furious and mortified. "This is disgraceful," he muttered. "Raizer's peerage is humiliating us all by association."
Lady Venelana Gremory, on the other hand, looked calm but concerned. "Rias has never faced opponents like this before. This might be the reality check she needs."
Sona Sitri, watching from her family's section, sighed. "Shiki is cruel, but he's not wrong. Rias's peerage isn't ready for this."
Even the Demon Lords had their reactions.
Sirzechs Lucifer frowned slightly, though his voice remained calm. "Raizer's peerage is using psychological warfare. It's effective, but harsh."
Serafall Leviathan, meanwhile, looked torn between outrage and amusement. "They're being so mean to my little Rias!" she pouted. "But… it's kind of funny."
Ajuka Beelzebub leaned back in his seat, his expression thoughtful. "They're exposing the weaknesses in Rias's peerage without even lifting a finger. It's a clever strategy."
Falbium Asmodeus yawned, though a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "At least it's entertaining."
Rias's Breaking Point
Back in the student council room, Rias was shaking with anger, her fists clenched at her sides. "That's enough!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the room.
Shiki floated back, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Oh, sorry. Did we hurt your feelings?"
"You think this is funny?" Rias snapped. "Mocking us like this?"
"It's not about funny," Raizer finally said, breaking his silence. His calm voice cut through the chaos like a knife. "It's about reality. You stepped into this match thinking you could challenge us. All we're doing is showing you just how wide the gap between us really is."
"You haven't even fought us yet!" Rias argued.
Raizer's golden eyes met hers, unflinching. "And we won't have to—not until you're ready to actually face us."
Cliffhanger
The room fell into a tense silence as Raizer's words hung in the air. Rias and her peerage stood frozen, their frustration and humiliation evident, while Raizer's team remained relaxed, almost amused.
From the audience's perspective, it was clear that the battle had already begun—not with swords or magic, but with words and power dynamics.
The question now was whether Rias and her team could rise to the challenge—or if they would crumble under the weight of their own insecurities.
This chapter balances humor, tension, and the psychological warfare between the two peerages, highlighting the stark differences in power and mindset. Let me know if you'd like to expand on any part!